Course evaluations
Today's Lesson:
Paula Wilder
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Forum
The professor pulls out a white envelope containing papers full of empty bubbles and empty spaces. Pencils are required. The professor leaves and the students begin writing.
This is the process of course evaluations.
When I first came to Guilford, I had no idea how important these evaluations are. This is true for other students as well.
First-year Julia Levi-Goerlich said, "I think it is a waste of time."
According to Associate Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Physics Steve Shapiro, course evaluations are not a waste of time and figure importantly in faculty renewal, promotion, and tenure.
Shapiro referred me to the faculty review process located on the Guilford Web site. The evaluations are mentioned several times and do hold considerable weight.
"The Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC) uses course evaluations and many other sources of information in their deliberations," said Shapiro.
I asked students whether they realized that course evaluations were used in the review process and most were surprised.
Senior Zane Campbell said that he took the evaluations seriously but wasn't aware of the FAC guidelines. He thought they were mainly for the professors' benefit.
"Professors take them seriously because they feel it is important and they want to improve their teaching," said Campbell. "But now that I know that the FAC uses them in the evaluation process, I think it can really help both the professors and the school see how well they are doing."
In addition to the review process, professors do use the evaluations to assess if they need to make changes in the courses.
"I knew they were reasonably important, but the professors that talked with me already have tenure," said junior Art Fulks. "They just said they actually read them for consideration for the future classes."
But according to the review process guidelines, professors must write a self-evaluation and part of that is based on the course surveys.
This is the process of course evaluations.
When I first came to Guilford, I had no idea how important these evaluations are. This is true for other students as well.
First-year Julia Levi-Goerlich said, "I think it is a waste of time."
According to Associate Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Physics Steve Shapiro, course evaluations are not a waste of time and figure importantly in faculty renewal, promotion, and tenure.
Shapiro referred me to the faculty review process located on the Guilford Web site. The evaluations are mentioned several times and do hold considerable weight.
"The Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC) uses course evaluations and many other sources of information in their deliberations," said Shapiro.
I asked students whether they realized that course evaluations were used in the review process and most were surprised.
Senior Zane Campbell said that he took the evaluations seriously but wasn't aware of the FAC guidelines. He thought they were mainly for the professors' benefit.
"Professors take them seriously because they feel it is important and they want to improve their teaching," said Campbell. "But now that I know that the FAC uses them in the evaluation process, I think it can really help both the professors and the school see how well they are doing."
In addition to the review process, professors do use the evaluations to assess if they need to make changes in the courses.
"I knew they were reasonably important, but the professors that talked with me already have tenure," said junior Art Fulks. "They just said they actually read them for consideration for the future classes."
But according to the review process guidelines, professors must write a self-evaluation and part of that is based on the course surveys.
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